Thinking With the Holy Spirit

In my experience, the Holy Spirit does not think in terms of right/wrong or good/bad. When it comes to things in the world, the Holy Spirit asks one question: “What part of this is helpful for awakening?” And It lets go of everything else.

For example, I often have students who comment to me about books they have read that reference A Course in Miracles, but that they have found are not strictly in line with the Course. Last November I decided to address this issue in a blog, The Better Dream Teachers (
http://acimmentor.blogspot.com/2006/11/better-dream-teachers.html). There were a lot of ways I could have looked at the writers of these books. My ego doesn’t like it when someone reads the Course differently from me or when they do something with the Course with which I don’t agree. But the Holy Spirit pointed out that many students who complained about these teachers were often led to the Course through their books. I also know that many people have used these books to help them overcome obstacles that would have been in the way of their accepting the Course’s message. From the point of view of the Course, then, these teachers are helpful in these ways. And I’m sure they are also helpful in other ways, perhaps for students of different paths.

It takes great learning to understand that all things, events, encounters and circumstances are helpful. It is only to the extent to which they are helpful that any degree of reality should be accorded them in this world of illusion. The word "value" can apply to nothing else. (M-4.I.A.4)

To focus on anything else in the above example is to focus on differences -- separation. Anything can be used to learn Oneness or separation. In my last blog I showed how the Holy Spirit used my obsession with politics to teach me that perception is interpretation not fact! That’s the only value that that episode had in my life.

Another example of the Holy Spirit’s thinking in terms of helpfulness is in the Manual for Teachers, #24 Is Reincarnation So? While many lives apart from God are no more real than one life apart from God, the Course tells us that when you are confronted with someone who believes in it, emphasize the helpful part of the concept of reincarnation – that life and the body are not the same – and let the rest fall away.

It is much simpler to think with the Holy Spirit, Who is very single minded! Since your life is now about awakening, you can look on everything with gratitude for the part it plays in helping you reach your goal. Instead of wishing your job was more meaningful, be grateful for it as a means of supporting you as you study the Course and become a teacher of God and for providing you with a classroom in which to learn. Your loved ones may not be students of the Course but they support you emotionally and practically as you fulfill your purpose as a teacher of God. You may not be in your dream house, but you have a roof over your head and the space for meditation and study. The only part of anything in the world that has value is that which helps you to remember Oneness.

If it’s in your life, the Holy Spirit has a purpose for it. If you cannot see the value of something, then ask the Holy Spirit to show it to you. You will always be answered.

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Comments

Anonymous said…
I know the idea is that holy spirit meets us where we are on our particular spiritual path, but referring to the holy spirit as a benevolent entity who manipulates time and plants helpful right-minded thoughts in our consciousness is confusing.
I want to say that the holy spirit is symbol of constant love who is there to remind us how to think in such a way as to reverse the effects of the ego. Since all is one answers to our questions come from our true self as as much as they do from the holy spirit.
I know some of this is my interpretation of what you wrote but how should we really be thinking of the holy spirit?

Thanks Liz
ACIM Mentor said…
There is no difference between your True Self and the Holy Spirit. "Holy Spirit" is simply the name given to the teaching aspect of your Christ Mind (True Self), Which is the part of your mind that knows that It is One with God.
The Holy Spirit is the bridge between the Truth (God)in your mind and your perception that you are a personal self in a body in a world. It knows What you are, but It also knows that you do not know this. It meets you where you are so that you first learn to trust It, then you go through a process of gradually following It more and more,until your identity slips into It.
jerryo said…
It appears one can Trust that the Holy Spirit is also working within the dreams of other people.
Anonymous said…
What if I want to be wealthy? does the Holy Spirit have a purpose for my desire to be wealthy? or should I let it go?
ACIM Mentor said…
The Holy Spirit will use anything that you give to It for the purpose of reminding you of Truth. So whatever you desire in the world, invite the Holy Spirit into it. If your greater desire is for peace then the lesser desire will fall away if it is an obstacle to peace. If it is not an obstacle to peace then the Holy Spirit will use it. For example, the situations you find yourself in as you pursue your goal will be used by the Holy Spirit as classrooms where you learn of peace.
But if you want something more than the Truth then that desire is an obstacle to peace and you won't truly be open to the Holy Spirit. It will not be able to reach you until you are open to It
Anonymous said…
How will I know if my desires are obstacles to peace?

I am not wholeheartedly willing to let go of my desires in this world.
ACIM Mentor said…
If you find that you are unwilling to share them with the Holy Spirit then they are obstacles to peace.

You do not have to by wholly willing to let them go. You only have to be willing to share them with the Holy Spirit.

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